For the first sixty years of the City of Vancouver’s history, racial prejudice and discrimination against Chinese people was commonplace.

Based on a City Council motion passed in 2014, we are:

Researching past civic laws, regulations, and policies that discriminated against Chinese people in Vancouver between 1886 and 1947

Consulting with the Chinese community and experts on research findings

Recommending steps and actions in support of reconciliation, including a public acknowledgement and formal apology

This initiative provides an important opportunity to learn about a lesser-known part of our city's history. While valuing the progress that's been made, we must all stay vigilant in upholding our values of equity, justice, and well-being for all.

Past updates

Winter 2017

We completed initial research on discrimination by City Hall during 1886 to 1947. Our findings show four areas of discrimination:

Voting rights and citizenship

Exclusion from immigration

Restricting livelihoods in the areas of industry, business, and labour

Segregation in housing and public spaces

On March 21, 2017, International Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination, we announced the formation of an advisory group to guide this process. The group includes community leaders, historians, veterans, and their descendants. It will guide the rest of the process and recommend next steps.